Envelope feeding mechanism



Sept. 10, 1940. P. H. wulLLE ENvELoPE mamme MEcHANIsu Filed July :51

, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l /nv Llp PHIL gy @www Sept. l0, 1940.

P. H. wulLLE 2,214,265 ENvELePE mamme Macnmsu Filed July s1, 1939 z sheets-sheet a Patented Sept. 10, 1940 UNITED;

sa OFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to an envelope feeding device which is adapted to be used in conjunction `with typewriters and the like.

An object of Athis invention is to provide an irnproved article of this type having means for successively feeding envelopes, one at a time, from a magazine into a typing machine where it is subsequently addressed. The structure employed to carry out this result comprises a magazine for holding a compressed stack of envelopes together with a reciprocable dog which is adapted to pass back and forth across the uppermost envelope of the stack to engage the closure flap and transfer the envelope to the typing machine. By providing such an apparatus, the envelope can be easily and uniformly positioned in the typing li'nacliine, thus insuring that vthe typed matter will occupy the proper position on the envelope. Also the entire feeding operation is expedited with less waste of time. Heretofore, this. operation has been carried out by slow hand feeding which was by no means uniform or accurate.

It is a further objectof this invention to provide van envelope feeding device of the class described which is simple in construction, easy to manufacture, low in rst cost, efficient in operation, requiring practically no adjustment and which serves as a time and labor saving device.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved device shown in conjunction with an ordinary typewriter;

Figure 2 is an isometric view showing the details of an envelope which is adapted to be used with this improved feeding device;

.Figure 3 is an elevation looking 3-3 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 5--5 in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an elevation of the feeding device, showing the platen of a typewriter in section,

view looking along the line ll-- looking from the opposite side from that shown numeral it denotes a typewriter having a carriage il in which is rotatably mounted a platen l2. Also associated with the carriage ll and platen l2 is a shield i4 which serves to `guide along the line a sectional plan view taken along paper envelopes and the like into the typewriter.

The apparatus which will hereinafter be described is adapted to feed envelopes, one at a time, downwardly upon the shield lil and against the platen i2 so that it can be turned to the proper position kl5 merely by rotating the platen.

The device for feeding these envelopes is broadly designated by the reference character l5. This feeding apparatus comprises sidewalls it and il,

said sidewalls Vbeing hollow and having their 1'0 proximate faces joined together by means of incliriedl board I8 and back wall I9. The uppermost portions of the sidewalls i6 and l'l are tied together by a metallic strap 2t. This strap serves to limit the position to which envelopes 2l may be 15 pressed. These envelopes are stacked one upon the other and the other end of the stack isV normally pressed toward the strap 2li by means of a suitable board 22, said board, in turn, being supported by a bar 23. in retaining the envelopes'in the stack by a pairy of laterally projecting members and 26, which projections are adapted to engage the endsof the uppermost envelope 2l and preventit from escaping from the magazine or stack except when-25 it is pulled sidewise. All of the envelopes 2l have a closure flap 2l which normally rests against one side of the envelope. lWhen the envelopes are placed in the magazine it -is desirable toA place them so that the flap 2 will be disposed upwardly .30

in the manner shownin Figures 1,4, 5 and 6. By providing the short projections 25 and 2d ad- 'jacent the ends of they exposed envelope, the intermediate portion of the envelope is caused -to bulge outwardly so that the closure flap 2l will 35 move away from the side of its envelope. When in Ysuch a position a dogmi can more easily engage the flap.

The dog 2B is pivoted as at 2S to a U-shapedjbar 313. This bar has the ends of its legs fixedly se- 40 cured to the ends of a suitable transversely disposed shaft Bl. Since the ends are xedly secured to this shaft, it is evident that any rotative pressure exerted upon the shaft will be transmitted to the dog 28. It will be noted that the free end of the flap or dog 28 normally rests upon the uppermost envelope 2l. In Figures l and 6, the dog 28 is shown in a position which is slightly lower than its uppermost position, At this time,

the dog is about ready to engage the closure flap `50 El to move it downwardly onto the shield I4 and against the platen I2. vFigures 4 and 5, however;y show the dog 28 in its uppermost position.

The flap 2l has a deflecting shield 35 secured to the upper side thereof V'with its; lower end spaced--.mi

The strap 2i! is assisted 20 a slight distance away from the upper side of the dog. This shield is thus spaced so that when the free end of the dog 28 engages the closure flap 21 the lower end of the closure flap will be confined beneath the member 35.

In order to rotate the U-shaped member 30 together with its associated dog 28, a- U-shaped member 36 has been provided, one leg of said member being pivoted as at 31 to one leg of U- shaped member 38, and the lower portion of this same leg being pivoted as at 38 to an operating lever 39. The operating lever is pivoted as at 40 to sidewall I6. A suitable spring 4| is employed in order to normally hold the parts 28 to 39 inclusive in normal uppermost position.

By observing Figure 6, it will be noted that the U-shaped member 36 has its other leg pivotally secured as at 42 to the other leg of U-shaped member 30. Secured in an intermediate portion of the U-shaped member36 is a set screw 44, the end of which is adapted to engage the sidewall I6, when the dog 28 and its associated U-shaped members 30 are in uppermost position. This screw may be adjusted so as to vary the uppermost position of these members.

It is, therefore, seen when it is desired to feed the uppermost envelope 2l from the magazine that it is only necessary to apply pressure to the left end of operating lever 39 (Figure 1) and upon the rotation of this operating lever the dog 28 will engage the closure ap 21 of the uppermost envelope 2l and cause the entire envelope to be pulled sidewise from beneath the strap 20 and lateral projections 25 and 23, and onto the shield I4 of the typewriter.

The lower portion of the stack of envelopes 2| is normally pressed upwardly by means of the members 22 and 23 which have been previously described. The ends of the member 23 have pins 41 and 48 extending into slots 49 and 50 of sidewalls I6 and I1 respectively. Since the sidewalls I6 and I1 are hollow there is room for suitable coiled spring cords 52 and 53, respectively, therein. One end of each of these spring cords is connected to the pins 41 and 48. The cords 52 and 53 are adapted to pass over rollers 55 and 56, and downwardly over a second pair of rollers 51 and 58, respectively, both pairs of rollers being rotatably mounted in the hollow sidewalls I6 and I1. After passing over the rolls 51 and 58, the spring cords 53 and 52 pass over another set of rollers 59 and 60, which rollers are anchored to the sidewalls I6 and l1 respectively (see Figures 6 and 7). The lower ends of the cords 52 and 53 are anchored as at 6I and 62 respectively to sidewalls I1 and I6. y

The object of providing the spring cords 52 and 53 with such an extended length is to have substantially a uniform tension in the cords regardless of whether the magazine is lled or nearly empty. If short cords were provided, then the tension in the stack of envelopes would be considerably greater when the magazine was filled than it is when the magazine was about empty. By providing these long spring cords, the compressive stress in the stack of envelopes is more nearly the same regardless of whether the magazine is filled or empty.

Special attention is called to the members 25 and 26 and their relation to the uppermost envelopes (Figure 4) By providing these short lateral projections, the pressure which is exerted on the bottom of the stack of envelopes will cause the closure flap 21 to bulge slightly outwardly so that when thelower free end of dog 21 reciprocates downwardly it Will easily engage this flap so as to cause the entire envelope to be moved sidewise into the typewriter. It will also be noted that the stack of envelopes is slightly wider along its lower edge than it is on the upper edge due to the increased thickness of each envelope on account of the iiap 21. This necessitates the stack being fan-shaped, and, therefore when the uppermost envelope is confined by the projections 25 and 26, the flap 21 is free to move outof contact with the side of the envelope so that the dog 28 can engage the same.

In order to limit the downward stroke of U- shaped member 30 and its associated members 28 and 35, a pin 63 has been provided in the sidewalls I6 and I 1. These pins extend laterally into the path of U-shaped member 30 and serve as stops. When the pins are engaged, the uppermost envelope has been completely freed from the members 20, 25 and 26 so that it can fall upon shield I4. i

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms have been employed, they are used in a genericand descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Means for feeding envelopes to the platen of a typewriter, each of said envelopes having a closure flap folded against one side thereof, said means comprising a magazine disposed above the platen for holding a stack of compressed envelopes, each of which has its closure flap disposed upwardly on the forward face thereof, a

U-shaped member having its ends pivoted to the sides of the magazine, a dog pivoted to the free end of said U-shaped member which dog has its free end normally resting upon the uppermost envelope in said stack, means for oscillating the free end of said U-shaped member across the top of said stack to cause the free end of said dogto engage both surfaces of the closure flap of the uppermost envelope and move it transversely of the stack to said platen.

2. Means for feeding envelopes to the platen of a typewriter, each of said envelopes having a closure ap folded against one side thereof, said means comprising a magazine disposed above the platen for holding a stack of compressed envelopes, each of which has its closure iiap disposed upwardly, a U-shaped member having its ends pivoted to the sides of the magazine, a dog pivoted to the free end of said U-shaped member which dog has its free end normally resting against the forward face of the foremost envelope in said stack, means for oscillating the free end of said U-shaped member across the forward end of said stack to cause the freel end of said dog to pass behind the closure flap of the foremost envelope and move it downwardly from the stack to said platen, and a guide member attached to the upper side of said pivoted dog and spaced therefrom to form a slot which passes on op-` posed sides of said closure ap upon the transfer of an envelope to the platen.

3. Means for feeding envelopes to the platen of a typewriter, each of said envelopes having Ya closure fiap folded against one side thereof, said.

pivoted to the free end of said U-shaped member which dog has its free end normally resting upon the uppermost envelope in said stack, means for oscillating the free end of said U-shaped member across the top of said stack to cause the free end of said dog to engage the closure flap of the uppermost envelope and move it transversely of the stack to said platen, and projections on the discharge end of said magazine extending over the ends of said stack, whereby the pressure within the stack will cause the intermediate portion to bulge upwardly and allow the exposed closure flap to move away from its associated envelope.

4. Means for feeding envelopes to the platen of a typewriter, each of said envelopes having a closure ap folded against one side thereof, said means comprising a magazine disposed above the platen for holding a stack of compressed envelopes, each of which has its closure flap disposed upwardly, a U-shaped member having its ends pivoted to the sides of the magazine, a dog pivoted to the free end of said U-shaped member which dog has its free end normally resting upon the uppermost envelope in said stack, means for oscillating the free end of said U- shaped member across the top of said stack to cause the free end of said dog to engage the closure flap of the uppermost envelope and move it transversely of the stack to said platen, a guide member attached to the upper side ofsaid pivoted dog and spaced therefrom to form a slot which passes on opposed sides o-f said closure flap upon the transfer of an envelope to the platen, and projections on the discharge end of said magazineextending over the ends of said stack whereby the pressure within the stack will cause the intermediate portion tol bulge upwardly and allow the exposed closure ap to move away from its associated envelope.

5. Apparatus for feeding envelopes to a position where rotation of the platen of the typewriter will place the envelope in a position to be addressed, comprising a magazine for storing the envelopes in upside down position and with their flaps disposed on the forward side of the envelopes, resilient means for advancing the envelopes, means for arresting the forward movement of the envelopes, and means for engaging one envelope at a time between its flap and the body of the envelope and feeding it into contact with the platen, and means on the engaging means for engaging the outer side of the flap to prevent rotation of the same.

PHILLIP H. WUILLE. 

